Different Voices

“2005 was a year of success for France. With Airbus A380, Ariane 5, the satellite navigation system Galileo, ITER for the future energy, our country was at the top of the world innovation.” Jacques Chirac, French president, boasting with European successes.

“I call that hypocrisy. Unemployment in Denmark is among the lowest in the EU and as a result I have a hard time understanding the Danish position.” Jiri Paroubek, Czech prime minister, criticising Danish restrictions on the free movement of workers from the new member states.

“To put single parts of this constitution into force and leave others aside, without knowing where you want to go, that does not work.” Angela Merkel, German chancellor, on cherry-picking the EU constitution.

“The root cause of these assaults lies in the colonialist nature and policies of the West, whose plan is to keep countries backward.” Akbhar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Iran’s influential former president, on Western criticism of Iran’s nuclear programme.